#196 What’s it all about?

I don’t know yet what I want to say today, and I write anyway.

I write anyway because it’s the only way to figure out what I want to say.

I do yoga because it’s the only way to understand why yoga is important.

I run because it’s the only way to figure out why running is worth it.

I spend time with family because it’s the only way to understand why love is important.

There’s no need to wait for reasons of motivation.

You do what you do to figure out why you’re doing it.

Thought of the day: it’s better to be proven wrong than to be paralyzed in doubt.

How likely is the scenario you’re worrying about?
And how impactful or life-threatening is that scenario?
Now, how much mental bandwidth is worrying about it taking up?
Are your worries proportionate to the actual danger?
Should you be worrying at all?
If not, could you stop right away?

Of course, you and I both know that’s not always how it works, my friend.

Because even if we know rationally that we shouldn’t worry, the worrier mind tends to scoff at answering rational questions.

Yet today, I had an insight: maybe those questions aren’t meant to dismiss the worrier mind at all but empower the sane mind, temporarily suppressed and overpowered?

Maybe they can provide enough encouragement to make the sane mind stand up for itself again and say, “Enough is enough.”

Maybe that way, the sane mind will put the worrier mind back in its place, reminding it of the only task where it truly shines: protect us from life-threatening risks.

Or maybe not. I don’t know, my friend. You’ve seen me: I’m just another human with good days and bad—productive days and lazy. Days of irrational fears and worry, and days of relaxing, dreaming, and visioning.

But this I do know: worrying too much has never improved my mood, and I doubt it has ever improved yours.

So if you’ve had an overactive worrier mind lately, trying won’t hurt.

Let me know how it goes.

What am I scared of right now?

What are the chances that that scenario will come true?

What would happen if that scenario came true?

And what would happen then?

And then?

And then?

Is it really that bad?

Do I have the resources to deal with it?

Is this truly a catastrophe, or will I be fine either way?

Keep asking*, “What would happen then?”.* Look past the initial fears and challenges. And more often than not, you’ll realize that this too shall pass.